'Ready to inflict greater damage on US': Iran's stern warning amid deadlock over peace plan
Iran on Sunday issued a stern warning to the US as the West Asian nation anticipated renewed attack from its western enemy. Iran's army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia reportedly said that the country is ready for confrontation and will inflict greater damage on the US, the state media reported.
A woman chants slogan as she holds an Iranian flag while motorcyclists ride during a state-organized motorcycle parade called "Janfada," meaning "Sacrifice for Iran", in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP)The Iranian military's statement came after US President Donald Trump reportedly voiced his rejection of a seven-day proposal for reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz. "They made a proposal but I rejected it,” Trump said Saturday. “They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly," he claimed.
Despite Trump's remarks, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said Iran was awaiting a definitive US response through mediators Qatar and Pakistan, according to state-run broadcaster IRIB.
“The US president has made some good remarks as well as many contradictory ones, which unfortunately we hear from him frequently,” Araghchi was quoted as saying. The Iranian minister called for “negotiated solution”, saying only talks can resolve the impasse over the key waterway.
Negotiators of the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran were exploring a deal that would see Tehran reopen the strait and Washington lift a blockade of Iranian ports, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
The pact would have been similar to the memorandum of understanding reached by the two sides in mid-June, which resulted in a fragile ceasefire that soon broke down.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh was attacked by Yemen's Houthi militants, an Iranian-backed group. This came as sign of Iran stepping up hostilities against US allies in the Middle East.
According to a previous report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump expects to resume the bombing campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections in early November and remains skeptical that Tehran will meet his demands.
Trump declined to answer when asked whether he would resume the bombing after the midterms.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not allow freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as long as US sanctions and a blockade remain in place.
He also said Iran would not relinquish its right to develop nuclear technology for economic purposes.
Akanksha Verma is an Associate Editor at the Hindustan Times in New Delhi. With an experience of over a decade, she has led newsrooms operations and worked on digital content strategies. She is adept at covering breaking news situations and holds expertise in doing long-form explainers on national, political and geopolitical issues. Akanksha has previously worked with The Times Of India, Indian Express Online, News18.com, India Ahead and The Daily Jagran. She has written on key national and global events, including the Lok Sabha Elections, Assembly Elections, US Elections, US-Iran war, Operation Sindoor, Israel-Palestine conflict, Afghanistan conflict, Ram Temple verdict, Ladakh standoff, Abrogation of Article 370 and Demonetisation. She holds a BA (Hons) in English from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, and a Postgraduate Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, Odisha. She is proficient in both English and Hindi and has earned a beginner-level certification in Korean. Beyond her newsroom responsibilities, Akanksha enjoys reading books that explore gender and social issues. She also turns to poetry as a creative outlet, writing verses whenever inspiration strikes.Read More
